El último cuplé

A fine film based on the life of a singer of "cuplés," a popular Spanish musical genre. It bears great similarity to the classic "Dama de las Camelias" with a tragic ending. The music is fine. The Sarita Montiel singing is warm and exotic, very easy listening. However, purists might prefer the original style of "cuplé" singers, a bit less warm.

EL ULTIMO CUPLE is a must-see for any Spanish cinema buff, in fact any admirer of Spanish culture. The movie has many layers that make it a favorite in the Spanish-speaking world, and is being seen by the newer generations, as we in the U.S. see "The Wizard of Us." It is a star-studded, more accessible alternative, to the heavier Spanish "zarzuela" or operetta. First, it is about cuples, "couplets" - simple Spanish songs from popular poems. In this respect, the movie, and its soundtrack are the ultimate collection of couplets. Secondly, the plot is woven so that nearly every major facet (now known as cliche') of Spanish culture is revealed in the diverse songs, and plot twists. These include the main regional costumes and dances, bullfighting rituals, the devotion to the Virgin Mary and local popular Saints, women's tragic position in life - dedicated to their men, and various folkloric songs that are not couplets. The latter include "Valencia" (about the orange growing province), and "La Madelon" (the French WW I hymn, also sung in Spain). In third place, and I'll stop here, it is a showcase for the extraodinary talent (which includes beauty and sensuality) of the Spanish World's star of the Century: Sarita Montiel, and at her prime.

I had the privilege of seeing EL ULTIMO CUPLE in Paris during the Festival d'Automne in December 1981. Sarita Montiel, absolutely gorgeous in a mink coat, was in attendance and was given a standing ovation at the Saint-Germain-des-Près movie theater where three Montiel films were shown in an all-night presentation. EL ULTIMO CUPLE opened the evening and I was in awe at the beauty and talent of Sarita Montiel. She was charming in her speech to the house, that was fully packed, and I left the movie theater completely in love with the great Spanish star. I had already seen LA VIOLETERA, CARMEN LA DE RONDA, PECADO DE AMOR, MI ULTIMO TANGO, LA REINA DEL CHANTECLER and other Montiel films, but EL ULTIMO CUPLE may well be Montiel's signature performance, followed by LA VIOLETERA, and I have always gone back to it, time after time. This film is a national treasure. I am glad it has been restored and given the proper treatment it deserves.

During the forties, the Spanish Speaking world created two stars: María Félix, famous for her exquisite beauty and Libetad Lamarque, probably the most popular singer of those years. When, in 1957, EL ÚLTIMO CUPLÉ came out, the Spanish world (and the rest too!) found in Sarita Montiel an artist who had the beauty of María Félix (though a little more human and warm) and the charm of Libertad Lamarque (though the voice os Miss Lamarque was better). Her presence on the screen impacted everybody. Her unique singing style sold her records by the millions. After EL ÚLTIMO CUPLÉ came LA VIOLETERA, CARMEN, LA BELLA LOLA, PECADO DE AMOR, MI ÚLTIMO TANGO, LA REINA DEL CHANTECLER... films which broke box office records in Europe, America, Africa, India, Japan... even those countries behind the Iron Curtain. Neither the plots of her films nor her leading men were important; moviegoers wanted only one thing: to see and hear Sarita. Wherever there has been a movie screen a film of Miss Montiel has surely played.

Sorry but the writers of previous commentaries in this section seem to be confusing "El Último Cuplé" with another movie or movies. One of them writes that this film "bears a resemblance to Dama de las Camelias. " The writer is probably confusing "El Último Cuplé" with another Sara Montiel vehicle titled "La Bella Lola" (1962) which is based on "Camille" the classic novel by Alexander Dumas Jr.

Another writer states that the film includes "nearly every major facet of Spanish culture" and names as examples, "main regional costumes and dances, bullfighting rituals, the devotion to the Virgin Mary and local popular Saints, women's tragic position in life dedicated to their men, etc." Except for the fact that one of the characters in "El Último Cuplé" is a bullfighter all the other claims in that commentary are simply false. "Cuplé" is not about regional costumes or dances, the Virgin Mary or saints do not show up anywhere, and the plot has nothing to do with "women's tragic position in life." If there is one thing clear in this film is that the main character, as played by Sarita Montiel, is a sexually-charged liberated woman so I have no idea where the commentator got that outrageous information.

It is tragic that some confused or irresponsible people write comments and provide misleading false data in these pages and nobody checks its accuracy. Of course, to check everything would be an impossible task for IMDb but there should be a warning to every writer that before they post anything they must be absolutely sure about the assertions being made. Maybe a proper warning should read: "do not comment on any film you have not seen in more than ten years." Regarding "El Ultimo Cuplé" my opinion is that director Juan de Orduña and the screenwriters hit the jackpot by choosing the right cuplés (songs) in order to support the film's story line. By doing this, the not so brilliant script becomes credible and moving, impacting the viewers and making this low budget production an unforgettable experience. Photographer José Aguayo should also be commended for his use of Eastmancolor and making the film look like a much more expensive production while composer Juan Solano deserves praise for writing the soundtrack music and arranging all the songs. But, lets face it: Sara Montiel's beauty and talent as both an actor and a singer makes the whole package irresistible.

"El Ultimo Cuplé" was recently digitally restored and released in DVD by Buena Vista Home Entertainment, unfortunately in Spain only. A non-restored version was issued in the United States on a cheap double-feature DVD by SlingShot Entertainment in Burbank, California and has been sold at Wal-Mart, Amazon.com and other on-line stores. Pity! "El Ultimo Cuplé" deserves a deluxe edition, restored, with surround sound and extras including English subtitles.